Yep. And that keeps them busy, especially if they work up to Eagle.

And don't forget 4-H as well. A lot of good and diverse programs there as well.

Thank you for all the useful information that I have received about Peachtree City living. Is there not a movie theater, bowling alley, putt-putt golf at least within a reasonable distance for the teens? Do they not swim or fish in the lakes? Also, are the church youth groups active?

Alisa,
My teen finds plenty to do, is not an athlete, and is not hanging out in shopping mall parking lots. Yes, theaters and bowling exist in nearby Fayetteville (20-30 minutes, depending on traffic), and Newnan (30 minutes, will be shortened by about 10 minutes when the road construction is done). There's a putt-putt on the north side of Fayetteville, closer to 30 minutes. Times are based on the south side of PTC. The city pools are okay but the private Cannongate clubs are awesome with nice pools, snack bars, tables and chairs, longer hours, stay open through Labor Day, a nice place to spend the day (much cheaper than most clubs around the country, for just a social membership, I think $300 to join, $350/year or maybe the opposite). There are several churchs with very active youth groups. I would personally recommend the one at Christ our Shepherd Lutheran church.

Mom to 3, plus a few strays

Hey, I saw what you wrote, and thought I would try to help. There are two theaters in Fayetteville, about 15 min from PTC, a dollar theater and a newer 17 theater. There are also two theaters in Newnan that is about the same distance in the opposite direction. There is a bowling alley in fayetteville not far from the newer theater and also a bowlin alley in newnan right next to one of the theaters. They are both non-smoking, which is pretty nice. There actually happens to be a putt putt course, go-cart, amesement park in fayetteville also, called Dixie Land. it is only open at certain times though. Fishing is allowed for PTC residents in all of PTC lakes, but swimming in the lakes is not recommended, they tend to be a little polluted, judging by the dead fish often found. Some other things to check out would be paintball at Prime Time paintball about 15 south of PTC, and the BMX and skate park off Kelly Dr. in PTC.
I noticed you mentioned youth groups, and I would like to offer Crosspoint Community Church as an option. They have things happening for all ages, and the youth group is amazing. Monday nights are a more laid back, pizza eating, youth minister lead study, atmosphere. Wednesday nights they have a more in depth bible study and d-group (the kids split up boys and girls to study scripture and then have small discipleship groups for a while afterwards). Wednesday nights start at 6:30....love to have them there. Crosspoint is a new plant within the last 2 years, and God has been doing amazing things. It has a real family atmosphere. it is located at 100 Tivoli Gardens in PTC. or feel free to write me for more detailed directions at : chadsnowden@bellsouth.net.

Hope this helps some.

Attn: Leber
The Youth Council serving Fayette County (formerly the Peachtree City Youth Council) in the past year Sang Christmas Carols at the Southland Nursing Home, offered 3 Dodgeball Tournaments for Teens and Adults, had a free Halloween Party for children 10 and under with prizes and candy. They also had two concerts in 2005. Next month we are going on a Ski Trip to Maggie Valley, NC and we have also planned an Easter Egg/Scavenger Hunt for High Schoolers on April 15th.

We are also starting a 7th and 8th Grade Leadership Council which is open to any 7th and 8th grader in Fayette County. All Middle School Principals have been notified about this new program along with all of the newspapers. That organizational Meeting is scheduled for Thursday Feb. 9th at 6:30pm in PTC City Hall.

So PTC/Fayette County actually does offer programs for teens. If you have teenagers that complain that they have nothing to do, tell them to get involved in their community. The problem is, when I visit the High Schools and talk to the teens, they say there is nothing to do, but yet they don't want to step up and do anything about it. We also have a bunch of teens in PTC/Fayette County that are already very involved in their Local Church Youth Groups so there are plenty of things to get involved in.

Youth Council meetings are open to the public and we always encourage anybody to come. Our next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 6th, at 6:30pm at City Hall in PTC. If anybody would like to volunteer or has any questions or ideas, feel free to contact me.

Art Sivertsen
Leisure Programs Coordinator
Peachtree City Parks and Recreation Department
191 McIntosh Trail
Peachtree City, GA 30269
(770) 631-2542

Glad to hear the youth council is still alive, the old web address I have for them is out of date (http://www.peachtree-city.org/recreation/youth/) - someone should remove that page. Is there a new web address where we can see the planned events?

Alisa,

My family moved here 10 years ago from Beavercreek, Ohio. We have four kids and at the time they were 4, 6, 8 and 11 years of age. We haven't regretted moving here and would again in a heartbeat. PTC has miles of golf Car/bike/walking paths (I believe the last count was 80+ miles) that make it convenient & fun to travel in the city. 12 year olds can drive with a parent and that helped 3 of my four kids be much better drivers because we had a much more active role in teaching them the "rules of the road".

A definite downside as mentioned before is it IS difficult to find things to do for the teenagers (not impossible, just difficult) but if you are an active parent in your kiddo's lives then the hanging around should not be an issue. The other thing I'm not crazy about is the rapid growth that is going on right now because I like a smaller city but that's just MY opinion.

McIntosh does tend to be more known for education and Starr's Mill sports but both schools are good schools. You CAN run into the "spoiled kid" (heck, spoiled adults too!) aspect here but where don't you get that?

PTC also has some stringent rules with regards to homeownership that rub some people the wrong way (i.e. you have to get permission to cut down certain size trees, you can't park a car on grass, watering the grass on the correct day etc..) but I feel the rules protect my investment in my property so they don't bother me. In the long run though, PTC is a wonderful place to live and if you do decide to move here I hope your family enjoys it here as much as mine does!

PTC Momma is rehashing some urban legends about Peachtree City - "high schoolers expect to get a relativity new car when they turn 16 (you oughta see the high school parking lots...)" Have you ever really looked at the cars in the high school parking lots? There are a lot of old, beat up looking cars in those lots. And you'd be surprised how many of the kids with the nicer cars worked to pay for them. Neither of my kids expect a car for their 16th birthday. My neighbors gave their daughter one for her 16th birthday but she's the only kid that I know of who got such a nice gift. I've heard the same "stories" but now that I have a high schooler I've learned it's mostly urban legend. Peachtree City kids aren't as spoiled as you think.
The comment about "adult peer pressure to give your child so much stuff or let them do everything that comes along...." is disturbing. This may be a truism for some parents, but I think most parents are pretty good at setting limits for themselves and their children. Why on earth anyone with children would consider Coweta or Meriweather counties I can't imagine. The recreation paths not only make Peachtree City an exceptional place for active families to live, it makes the city a close-knit community. There is nothing sweeter than taking a leisurely walk on the paths and waving, smiling and speaking to the people you pass. I have one athletic child and one non-athletic child and we have found plenty to keep them busy through the years. I also disagree with PTC Momma about special education students. In the Booth/McIntosh system they do everything they can to phase those kids out before high school to save money. If there is a child with special education needs in the family, you should consider north Fulton County or Decatur City schools.
Good luck in your search. This is a great place to live - not perfect - but pretty close.

Monkey,
This is PTCMomma. I do have a high schooler, and there are far more newer cars in the student parking lot at SMHS than there are older cars. I would consider it newer if it's less than 5 years old. Perhaps there are more differences between McIntosh and SMHS than I realized. Yes, some of the kids I know do work for their cars but far more don't from what I've seen. They don't have time with all their extracurriculars and homework. As to special ed, there may be differences again between the schools. When mine was at Rising Starr, there were several students that had their own parapro, one had his own teacher, because of behavioral issues (instead of sending them to the more structured program at the Lafayette center (not the alternative school, the one for kids with emotional/behavioral problems). I didn't say that I succumbed to the adult peer pressure , although at times it's difficult more in conversation in with other adults than at home. As to Coweta and Meriwether, they both have good schools if you have the ability to know how to look beyond test scores. And are far more real world, which is where our kids will be in a few years. Meriweather has some gorgeous natural beauty to sit back and relax in. I'm not anti-PTC, but am merely responding to your note in response to mine. You chose to focus only on my negative comments, disregarding the positive things I had to say. There are plenty.
Mom to 3, plus a few strays

Why would the agent from Home Source that has a re-sale sign in the yard of a PTC resident try and "direct" someone to a Home Soutce Development? Where are all these Home Source developments in PTC? It's possible I missed them, but PTC is almost built out. Re-sales are where it's at, in my opinion. Many older homes are being re-modeled and are very much in demand.

Before you accuse me of it, I don't work for either Re-Max or Home Source. I am an agent though, at my own Brokerage.

They have been shopped and several times the phrase "Peachtree City is built out, but we have nice new homes in Summer Grove" has been heard. Not right, not proper, but true.

For a smelly rodent, you really get around. Home Source does that all the time, my new neighbor was put through that wringer and she opted out. A nice clean home on the resale market in Lake Forest or Dover Square or many other places in Peachtree City would be much better than Summergrove.
meow

This not a bulletin board for real estate salespeople. Why do you have to act like car salespeople?